The Golden Triangle

One of the things I would recommend is to visit the Golden Triangle, consisting of Agra, Jaipur and Delhi. Our trip was arranged and we were provided with a guide at each location. The current exchange rate is approx. 80 Rupees to £1

 

JAIPUR

In Jaipur we visited Amber Fort. Elephant rides are a very popular way of getting up to the Fort, but this is only possible in the morning and comes with quite a queue. You ride side saddle in pairs along the edge of the drop, so you get a stunning view. There is a 21km wall - the 3rd longest in the world surrounding this and 2 other forts in Jaipur. There is a cost of 500 Rupees entry, unless you have a student card, which makes it a lot less, but the elephant ride cost is separate to this.

Inside Amber Fort

Amber Fort

There are also a few places to add as photo stops: palace in the lake and the palace of winds. The latter being a building with lots of windows, where women would stand to watch processions and life below as women were not supposed to be seen.

Palace in the lake

Palace of Winds

Jaipur is also a very good place for shopping and specialises in semi-precious stones and there are lots of places to buy clothes and textiles.

You can also visit City Palace, home of the King for 500 Rupees, or less if you have a student card. There is limited areas where you can take photos inside and if the little flag is up it means the King is there. Apparently if you pay extra you can go and see him.

We also visited a place called Monkey Temple, just outside Jaipur. It is 50 Rupees to use a camera and the guide helps you with the monkey, who you can feed (food may cost extra). The guide was brilliant and made sure the monkeys didn't get aggressive. They are wild monkeys who come in from the surrounding rocky hills. It doesn't appear to be a functioning temple, but is full of 2 different monkey species, all of which you can feed. The guide was key in helping anxious people (like me) enjoying the experience of feeding monkeys in this beautiful setting.

AGRA
The first thing we did was go to see the Taj Mahal. We were there before 8am and even then it was quite busy. As a foreigner you pay 1000 Rupees for a ticket, which includes free shoe covers to wear in the mausoleum, a bottle of water and a ride on an electric car down to the monument and back. It is the tomb of Mumtaz, 3rd wife of Shah Jahan (Mogal King). It is built of white marble and the whole complex is symmetrical. It is currently in the process of being cleaned, so parts of it are under scaffold. It is an amazing piece of architecture.

 

Taj Mahal

We also went to Agra fort, which is built from a mixture of red sandstone and white marble. You can see the Taj Mahal from it as well which allows you to see the Taj Mahal from a different angle. It is 550 Rupees entry, but if you have your ticket from the Taj Mahal it is only 500 Rupees. Part of the fort is still used by the army, so it is not fully open to the public but you take photos everywhere.

Agra Fort

DELHI

I have covered some of Delhi in my previous post, so this is about the places I have been to since my last post. There is so much to see in Delhi and so much beautiful architecture to see.

The lotus temple is a Baha'i house of worship; built in the design of a lotus flower with a grand total of 27 petals and surrounded by 9 pools of water. It seats 1300 people and has no imagery inside as it is a place of prayer and meditation for those of any faith. Baha'i faith is an independent world religion, aiming to unite the people of the world into one cause and one common faith.

Lotus Temple

Humayun's Tomb

Humayun's Tomb is on a complex with other grand tombs and burials and costs 500 rupees to enter. The tomb itself is 47m high with a 6m gold plated fixture at the top. It is built of red sandstone and predates the Taj Mahal. It was built by the wife of the Moghul emperor following his death.

Qutub Minar is also 500 rupees for entry to the complex containing the 72.5m tower. It is built on a site where Hindu temples were destroyed and a Mosque built in its place. Most of the site is ruins, but the tower is complete and towers high above you. There is also an iron pillar which has not rusted which is an interesting addition.


Qutub Minar

 

There are also a whole range of Hindu temples which you can visit, along with a Sikh temple and the Red Fort. Most of these are accessible from the metro, with or without a ride on a tuk tuk to get you to the entrance. It is a city with so much to explore and discover, including museums and parks.

The Golden Triangle has so much to offer and is definitely worth exploring if you are in the north of India. The architecture alone is amazing and worthy of seeing in a busy schedule.